Wrench.



L, OFWRIGHT.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION man m1. 1, 1919.

1,302,748. Patented May 6-, 1919.

W1 TNESS: Q

[Q m M m 0 g BY A TTORNE Y.

LEE 0. WRIGHT, or DANTE, VIRGINIA.

wnnNc i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed February 7, 1919. Serial No. 275,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE 0. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dante, in the county of Russell and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and use-.

ful Improvements in WVrenches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention is a wrench and has particular reference to a sliding jaw structure. One object of this invention is the production of efiicient means for quickly adjusting the sliding jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, while the greater the power applled to the handle, the firmer the element positioned sliding jaw will be adjusted with respect to the fixed jaw, although considerable pressure upon the handle will cause a firmer gripping action upon articles carried between the jaws.

One practical form of construction and assembly of the present invention will be hereinafter described and is illustrated 1n the drawing, in which V Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench with the jaws in a closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wrench with the jaws in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wrench.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horlzontal sect on of a portion of the device, taken on the line 4% of Fig. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the pres ent invention about to be described, 5 indicates the fixed jaw, which has a comparatively broad bearing surface although the projection 6 extending from its rear end 1s reduced in size as indicated in dotted lines 1n Fig. 3. The shank 7 extends from the inner edge of the projection 6 and this shank is substantially rectangular in cross sectlon as shown also in Fig. 3. This shank extends from the inner portion of the jaw 5 thus constituting an abutment and projects for any desired distance beyond the edge of the jaw 5. The projection 6 however, 1s provided with a longitudinally extending slot 8, it being noted that the projection 6 extends beyondone side edge of the shank 7,

thus allowing the slot 8 to be considerably longer than if the projection 6 terminated even with the one side of the shank 7.

A sliding jaw 9 is of substantially the same thickness throughout its entire length and has a vertical opening 10 extending therethrough, this opening being of a shape to snugly receive the shank 7 extended therethrough. Accordingly the sliding jaw 9 will be slidably mounted upon the shank 7 wherebythe sliding jaw may be guided in its movement toward or away from the fixed jaw 5. An integral extension 11 is formed on the rear end of the jaw 9 and is bifurcated to form a pair of cars 12.

The handle 13 extends between the ears 12 and the pintle 14 is passed through the ears 12 and the handle 13 to pivotally mount the handle on the extension 11 of the sliding jaw 9. A substantially U-shaped yoke 15 is formed on the forward end of the handle 13 and this yoke 15 fits upon the opposite surfaces of the projection 6 of the fixed jaw 5. A bearing 16 which of course might be a roller to reduce friction, is carried by the yoke 15 and projects through the slot 8,

This connection therefore pivotally mounts the forward end of the handle upon the fixed jaw 5. In order to lighten the con struction ofthe handle 13 and to facilitate a firmer gripping thereof the handle may be provided with a longitudinally extending slot 17. The operator may insert his hand through the slot 17 if desired, although of course he may grip the entire handle in the operation of the device.

When the device is in operation, in normal condition it will assume the position shown in Fig. 1. However, the handle 13 may be gripped and swung in the direction of the shank 7, whereby its pivotal connection to the sliding jaw 9 will slide this jaw along toward the outer end of the shank 7. The pivotal movement of the handle 13 is permitted owing to the slot 8 in the projection 6 of the fixed jaw 5. Owing to the greater length of the projection 6, the slot 8 permits the pin 16 to move for a considerable distance and thus allow the sliding jaw 9 to be moved for a considerable distance from the fixed jaw 5. However, as soon as an element is placed between the jaws, the shank 7 act- 7 ing as an abutment, the handle 13 may be swung away from the shank 7 thus drawing the sliding jaw 9 toward the fixed jaw 5 whereby the article placed between the jaws will be firmly gripped. It is obvious that the greater the power applied to the handle 13 is the greater will be the gripping action of the jaws 9 and 5 upon the article carried therebetween. Thus it will be seen that'the operation of the Wrench is very simple, rapid and efiicien't.- The device also is constructed of a minimum number of parts, which are simple and strong thus minimizing possibility of the invention becoming injured while in use.

' The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the approved or preferred form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wrench of the character described, the combination of a fixed jaw, having a reduced projection extending rearwardly from its rear end, ashank extending at right angles to saidprojection adjacent the rear end of said fixed jaw, said projection extending beyond the-opposite side edge of said shank, said projection being provided with a longitudinally extending slot extending from a point adjacent its outer end corresponding to said shank to a point adjacent the fixed jaw, a sliding aw having a vertical opening therein for receiving said shank, said sliding jaw projecting beyond each side of said shank, a handle pivotally mounted upon one end of said sliding jaw, the forward end of said handle having'a bearing extending through said slot whereby as said handle is swung in Copies of this patent may be obtained for one direction, said jaws will be moved together while when the handle is swung in the opposite direction, the jaws will be moved apart.

2. In a wrench of the character described, the combination of a fixed jaw having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom, a shank extending at right angles to the projection adjacent the rear end of the fixed jaw, said projection extending beyond the opposite side edge of the shank, said projection having a longitudinally extending slot projecting from its outer end to a point adjacent the rear end of the fixed jaw and crossing the longitudinal axis of the shank, an elongated sliding'ja-w having a vertical opening therethrough for receiving said shank, said sliding jaw having an extension upon its rear end provided with a bifurcation to form spaced ears, said ears being formed in a plane parallel to the rear end of said projection, a handle extending between said ears, a pintle passing through said ears and handle for pivotally connecting the handle to said sliding jaw, said handle having a U,shaped yoke at its forward end embracing said projection, and a bearing passing through said yoke and said slot, whereby said handle may be swung in one direction to draw the jaws together, although upon movement of the handle in the opposite direction, the jaws will be moved apart, a maximum spacing of the jaws being allowed by the elongated construction of the projection and slot thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEE 0. WRIGHT. Witnesses:

W. B. HARRIS, F. C. KASEFANG.

five cents each, by addressing tl e Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. v 

